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Brother rang up swearing at me after I have been dog sitting for him

291 replies

Jolenepleasetakeawaymyman · 14/09/2025 15:31

Sorry I really need to rant and also check I am not the one being unreasonable.

I will try to be as concise as possible and include the key details. At the moment I am not working for a whole host of reasons and living off savings and a small rental income. I have two secondary age kids one has some behavoral issues and the other has processing difficulties. I am doing my best to support them both as a single parent having left an abusive marriage.

My brother works full time and is older than I am by several years. His dc is at university and lives with him. She persuaded him to get a dog despite both of them being out of the house long hours and her having an active social life. The assumption was that my parents would go round and look after the dog. However they are both very elderly and have had some recent health issues. To help out I offered to do as many times a week as I could. Thought all was fine, go and feed the dog, let it out and then wait for a couple of hours to play with it and give it some company.

This weekend we were asked to do the dog. I said I would but would need to take my youngest son and would be a bit later as he had some activities but I would do both days. No problem - rushed to get there and spent time to look after the dog including picking up mess from the garden. Son went to watch tv. He made his own profile on their Netflix. Didn't think much about it.

Came home had dinner - all seemed fine. Then in the evening I get a call from my brother. He is shouting and swearing at me saying my son has changed his Netflix password. I was so shocked I started apologising and went to ask my son if he had. He said no he only created a profile. I said I believed him and said I don't think he did. He was still cussing and swearing at me the whole time. I came off the phone in shock. It triggered a lot of the feelings I had in my relationship when my ex would blow up for no reason.

Apparently his daughter had been on the phone complaining she could not login to Netflix abroad. But we had done nothing to his account. And even if my son had by accident changed something I don't think it needed him to shout and swear at me telling me not to touch anything in the fing house etc. I was doing him a favour! I was spending my time on a regular basis looking after his dog! I don't have a dog of my own due to not living in my own house right now and not being sure I can guarentee the time once I am able to work again. He took a dog on knowing he wasn't at home. And I was happy to help! Also I don't think you can even change a netflix password on the TV and if he did somehow manage to wouldn't the account holder get an email telling them this.

I sent a message to him saying it was better if I did not dog sit again and I would only go into his house from now on when he was there in order to avoid touching anything myself or my kids.

He sent a very short message telling me okay he should not have spoken to me like this. I accepted the apology but said I would not be dog sitting any more. This means my parents will now have to do it. Around the same time he phoned me my mother got a message from his daughter saying she had seen on face time that someone had pulled up one of her plants. She very passively aggressively told her that she was very upset and took a long time to calm down. Instructing her in future not to touch any plants etc. My mum had pulled up the plant as the dog was trying to eat it and it was poisonous to dogs. Again someone doing them a favour and being told off like a very naughty child for trying to help.

I am really angry today. I also feel guilty as I don't want the dog to be left alone but I don't want to go in the house either in case I damage or do something and get told off again!. Also my elderly parents will now have to go over most days to look after the dog which is a big stress on them. I don't want to come between my brother and my parents as they are very close to him. But part of me wants to tell them to say get a professional dog sitter and sort it out yourself.

So am I being unreasonable to not look after the dog anymore and to be angry with my brother and niece. Should I just accept it and continue to help out. I feel they don't actually want me in their house or my kids so I don't even know if they want me to help out.

Or am I reasonable and my brother was out of order in how he treated me and my son?

OP posts:
GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:41

Jolenepleasetakeawaymyman · 14/09/2025 16:37

so my son should sit their touching nothing when I am doing them a favour and looking after their dog. It is my brother. I’m not the actual dog sitter helping myself to their food and watching their tv. I am a family member helping out. I thought I had a closer relationship with him and his daughter. Obviously not.

well problem solved as we won’t be there again unless as guests with my brother there. I have said I will only enter the house if he is there. I got my mum to leave the keys I had for him. So his tv and Netflix are safe.

There's a big difference between sitting there doing nothing and making new profiles on streaming services. 🙃
That said, I do think your brother sounds hard work though, and is looking for things to moan about despite you helping him out - just say no next time. Let him sort out his own dog sitter!

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:42

Isobel201 · 14/09/2025 16:39

The OP said he was trying not to mess with their existing recommendations, so I can see why he did it.

Adding a profile does involve going into settings though.

Isobel201 · 14/09/2025 16:46

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:42

Adding a profile does involve going into settings though.

That doesn't mean he changed the password though. You can add a profile just from the main page.

Itiswhysofew · 14/09/2025 16:46

They're ungrateful and irresponsible fuckers. Don't do them any favours. Stand your ground.

The poor dog needs to be re-homed with people who have time for him. Your parents can sort things out with their son and granddaughter.

IsawwhatIsaw · 14/09/2025 16:46

Maybe your son shouldn’t have added his profile, but given the favour you were doing your brother, if I were him I would have mentioned it, not started ranting and swearing at you.
He sounds ungrateful and entitled and I wouldn’t be putting myself out to help him again.

Lifeinthepit · 14/09/2025 16:48

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:41

There's a big difference between sitting there doing nothing and making new profiles on streaming services. 🙃
That said, I do think your brother sounds hard work though, and is looking for things to moan about despite you helping him out - just say no next time. Let him sort out his own dog sitter!

It's his nephew though! What weirdo goes mad because a new profile has been set up (which he could delete) by his own young family member. Not a very nice uncle at all.

Isobel201 · 14/09/2025 16:48

My dad did the same thing adding a profile while he stayed here looking after my cat (completely fine) and nothing happened to my password or account. It must be the recent change when his daughter tried to log in from abroad that she can't do it anymore and he's just blaming your son rather than Netflix.

Hayley1256 · 14/09/2025 16:49

I would prefer someone set up their own profile if someone was watching netflix using my account. If they used my profile it would mess up the algorithm that recommends me shows etc - I've only just got mine back to normal after my DD used my profile instead of hers to watch Kpop Demon Hunters!

Lifeinthepit · 14/09/2025 16:50

Isobel201 · 14/09/2025 16:48

My dad did the same thing adding a profile while he stayed here looking after my cat (completely fine) and nothing happened to my password or account. It must be the recent change when his daughter tried to log in from abroad that she can't do it anymore and he's just blaming your son rather than Netflix.

I don't think you can log in from multiple addresses (to stop password sharing).

ClaredeBear · 14/09/2025 16:50

Wouldn’t bother me one iota if someone came to my house and added a profile to Netflix or whatever and I’d certainly know they hadn’t changed the password. Your brother and his daughter are technically challenged and took it out on you. What a shame - I’d be worried about the dog too and of course your parents. Perhaps this has to resolve with the passage of time but if you start to do your brother favours again make sure you’re clear with him about YOUR boundaries.

porridgecake · 14/09/2025 16:50

Netflix have got very strict about logging on abroad if you are not the account holder. You have to tick a box and a code will be sent to the account holder's phone. Maybe that was the problem for the daughter.
Anyway, they can pay for a dog sitter going forward.
I look after a family dog occasionally and it is pretty hard work.

Purplebunnie · 14/09/2025 16:51

Your B works he can afford to pay a dog walker or send the dog to doggy day care. The dog is not yours or your parents responsibility.

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:51

Lifeinthepit · 14/09/2025 16:48

It's his nephew though! What weirdo goes mad because a new profile has been set up (which he could delete) by his own young family member. Not a very nice uncle at all.

A person is not a 'weirdo' simply because they'd prefer folk not to make profiles on their streaming accounts.

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:51

Isobel201 · 14/09/2025 16:46

That doesn't mean he changed the password though. You can add a profile just from the main page.

I didn't say he changed the password.

Comeonbabyblue · 14/09/2025 16:53

No, I'd rather he had made a profile than go on mine and then I have kids stuff or whatever hes watched on "continue watching" or suggestions of kids stuff..... I still wouldnt have reacted like that but not hard to just delete the profile is it. Your do and dn sound like vile people tbh

PracticallyPeapod · 14/09/2025 16:54

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 16:51

A person is not a 'weirdo' simply because they'd prefer folk not to make profiles on their streaming accounts.

There is a world of difference between ‘prefer not’ and shouting and swearing at somebody for doing it. I’m sure the op wouldn’t be upset if her brother had politely asked her not to do it.

Easipeelerie · 14/09/2025 16:56

I’d go no contact. You shouldn’t be sworn at.

Angleislington · 14/09/2025 16:58

smallpinecone · 14/09/2025 15:35

Your brother is a nasty piece of work. Hell would freeze over before I looked after his dog again or did him any sort of favours at all. Nope, don’t need that in my life, fuck him.

Edited

The first post doesn't always nail it, but this one does.

porridgecake · 14/09/2025 16:58

You can have 5 profiles in one account. I can't see what harm there is in a family member using one. Call it "guest" if they don't want nephew's name on it.

notacooldad · 14/09/2025 16:59

I can understand why you would feel bad for the dog, but its on them. I wouldn't be rushing round to help people who my favours back in my face.

GleisZwei · 14/09/2025 17:01

PracticallyPeapod · 14/09/2025 16:54

There is a world of difference between ‘prefer not’ and shouting and swearing at somebody for doing it. I’m sure the op wouldn’t be upset if her brother had politely asked her not to do it.

I agree. I have clearly stated already that I feel he's just looking for something to be annoyed at. He sounds like hard work.

Evaka · 14/09/2025 17:01

OMG what a couple of pricks. No more favours, they can do one.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 14/09/2025 17:04

Bloody hell

Your brother will have to pay for a dog-sitting service, ultimately, and serve him right.

He should NOT have got a dog.

Marieb19 · 14/09/2025 17:14

Just another post to say your brother has behaved very badly, is being rude and selfish. If they can't look after a dog they shouldn't have one and shouldn't try to guilt relatives to look after it for them. Totally entitled behaviour. Your parents can make up their own minds but it sounds like it won't be a reliable long term option.

TonTonMacoute · 14/09/2025 17:15

I accepted the apology but said I would not be dog sitting any more. This means my parents will now have to do it

No.

This means your rude entitled brother and his ungrateful brat of a daughter will have to pay for a dog sitter in future.

Sod 'em!

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